First off, I want to say that I am not a complete noob and I know where I went wrong and didn't do it right. But I've never had this happen before.

Ok, now to my problem. I was trying to change the oil in my Jimmy. Since I got it, I've had a local shop change it, but this time I decided I could do it. Have done several oil changes, from a Chevy Metro and Lumina, to a Pontiac Grand Am and a Olds Alero. I replaced alternator in the Jimmy a few months ago, no problems at all.

Anyway, I don't have a filter wrench (but I WILL get one), but I have never had a problem getting an oil filter off. Most of the time, I can grip it tight and it'll break loose, on a few occasions I've had to use a large pair of channel locks to grip and get it loose. That's what I tried this time.

Well, it didn't budge in either direction (I am fairly sure it's like most bolts/screws/things with threads, lefty loosey righty tighty). So, I repositioned the channel locks and tried again, I broke the damn filter. It cracked and all the oil in it leaked out. I tried again and it was seperated.

Now here's where it may seem retarted, but I had nothing else I could try at that point, I broke the rest of it free. Now, all is left is the steel end, where the threaded hole and return holes are, and the rim that surrounds the steel piece and has the gasket on it. If you look at an oil filter, slice it about 1/4" from the business end, you'll have what I have.

I tried to get the damn thing off, and it just will not budge. Like I said, I have never had one that tight and stuck. My dad said he's never seen it either, and he changed the oil in his cars all the time until he started losing his vision.

I realize this sounds noobish and idiotic, but please bear with me. I'm not a mechanical noob (well, not always) but I have never had something like this. Changing the alternator and belt was easier than getting this thing off.

Anyone have an idea on how I can get it off? And please confirm, if I am laying on my back, feet out from under the front bumper, the filter rotates up toward the engine to loosen? I couldn't get more than maybe 1/8" rotation in either direction. Would liberal use of WD-40 help?

Thanks in advance for any assistance. And I do plan on getting a proper filter wrench before my next oil change.

Edit: I just read on another site that it's most likely the gasket causing it to be stuck. Said take a razor blade and run it all around the edge of the seal and it should break the bond. Gonna try that now or maybe tomorrow.

To make things easier, remove the plastic shield, about 6 15mm bolts hold it on. Get it out of your way! The filter has right hand threads, turn it counter-clockwise to remove it. Your large channel locks will do a fine job. When installing an oil filter, always put a thin film of oil or grease on the rubber gasket, it prevents what you're up against now.

I always do dip my finger in the old oil, put just a little bit on the gasket, but I don't know if they did it at the shop or not.

If it's not raining tommorrow, or just light sprinkes, I'm going to give the razor blade a try. I have a strong feeling it'll work.

Has to be what's holding it. I'm gonna try to get it off without removing the shield, as if it comes off easy like I hope, it'll not be a problem. If it doesn't come off, the shield comes off.

ok, so if I was looking directly at the threaded nipple (where the filter screws on) standard threads. Right tight, left loose? So I was turning it correctly. Ok, I'll get back to you on how it goes. I just can't believe I turned a simple 15-20 min tops oil change into this.

It was raining heavy Sunday so I had to work on it yesterday.

First off, I ued a razor blade to break the seal, and it did work. But I was only able to get to about 1/3 of the gasket, not enough to allow me to remove it with the shield, couldn't get a good bite with the channel locks.

So, I removed the shield. Didn't use the razor anymore but just got a good grip with the channel locks and it came off. Still wasn't easy. Had to turn about a full turn or more before it came off as it should. If only I'd thought of that the other day. Didn't want to remove the shield, but should have as soon as I encountered a problem. As it would have turned a 3 hour mess, into maybe 40 minutes at most.

After I was done, I looked at the old filter (what was left of it) and saw cut marks almost all the way through the gasket, indicating that I did break a great deal of the seal on what I could reach.

That trick will work, and it helped me this time.

Anyway, it's all done now. Next time I'm going to use a filter wrench (apply proper pressure and torque to the filter) and I might run it up on the ramps. Didn't this time, as I could reach the oil pan and would not have had a problem changing it with it sitting on the ground. As it only took a five minutes or so to get the plug out, drain the oil, and get to the filter. Had it come off easily as it should, it would have been a bery quick process.

Oh well, I learned something about how to get a stuck filter off a GM S series vehicle, and a trick that I'll remember if I ever need it again.

Thanks for the help.

Glad you got it! Oil filter only needs to be hand tight when you install it. Most of the time on mine, I don't even need a wrench, just grip it and spin her off.

me too. Every time I've changed them, just grip it and turn off. But of course, I had been the one to change it before, so it wasn't tight.

I'm gonna get a wrench just in case.